Step off the ship into the medieval Bryggen wharf area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, where small boats line the harbor and wooden gabled buildings stand proud along the waterfront. This is also home to Atlanterhavsparken, or the Atlantic Sea Park, one of the largest aquariums in Europe.īeautiful Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, is one of the most popular ports of call on a cruise up the fjords. Nearby is the Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its beautiful waterfalls. One of the highlights is climbing the 418 steps that lead up Mount Aksla for a spectacular view of the city and the Sunnmøre Alps. For those looking for a more active visit, Ålesund offers great hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. The colorful buildings feature castlelike turrets and spires with intricate facades of ornamental flowers, gargoyles and Viking-inspired decorations.īordering the Norwegian Sea, this area is also famous for its mountain ranges and fjords. A year after the fire, Norway gained its independence from Sweden, which led to a campaign to build a “Norwegian town” to mark the creation of the new nation. A fire in 1904 destroyed much of it, resulting in the town being rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style-also known as Jugendstil-that was popular around the turn of the 20th century.
Ålesund, a quaint fishing town of approximately 45,000 in western Norway, has been called Norway’s most beautiful city.